Thu, September 8, 2022 at 7:30 PM
ALEPH & ENSEMBLE
ARABIC MUSIC DAYS
Pierre Boulez Saal
The origins of the Arabic takht reach back all the way to the 8th century. Originally designating the wooden platform that used to serve as the stage for the musicians, the term has come to refer to the classical ensemble of Arabic music—consisting of singer, oud, flute, qanun, and various percussion instruments—that has been adopted and developed over the centuries in multiple musical traditions across the Middle East and Northern Africa. This combination of musicians, which has inspired creative exchange to this day, is at the center of the 2022–23 season’s Arabic Music Days curated by Naseer Shamma. In four concerts, artists from Syria, Lebanon, and Morocco present traditional and contemporary takes on the concept of the takht.
Lebanese pianist and composer Fady Abi Saad, better known under his stage name Aleph, and his ensemble combine the classical genre with the diatonic piano and various musical currents of the present.
The program also includes a range of digital content available on the new platform Pierre Boulez Saal Online, such as an exhibition of works by visual artist Nja Mahdaoui (Tunesia), readings by poets Basim Alansar (Iraq) and Ghayath Al Madhoun (Palestine), and the Oscar-nominated film The Man Who Sold His Skin by Tunesian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania. All four concerts will also be available for live streaming.
Artists
Kammerensemble
Piano
Ney, Percussion
Qanun
Trombone
Percussion
Bass
Watch
INTERVIEW TO NASEER SHAMMA
NJA MAHDAOUI MEETS NASEER SHAMMA
YOUR VISIT
How To Get There
Pierre Boulez Saal
Barenboim-Said Akademie
Französische Straße 33d
10117 Berlin
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Public Transport
U-Bahn U2 Hausvogteiplatz, U5 Museumsinsel, U6 Unter den Linden
S-Bahn S / U Friedrichstraße
Tram M1, 12 Mitte / Am Kupfergraben
Bus 147 Werderscher Markt; 100, 300, N5 Staatsoper
Bicycle
Bicycle racks are available on the street “Hinter der Katholischen Kirche.”
Car
Q-PARK parking garage Unter den Linden / Staatsoper
Bebelplatz 2
10117 Berlin
Theater rate (5.30 pm – 11.30 pm, paid in advance): €10
More information on getting there by public transport, bike, or car is available on our Getting there page.
Opening Hours
Box Office
During the summer, the box office will be closed from June 30 to August 1 and from August 11 to September 5, 2025.
Monday to Friday 2 pm to 6 pm
Closed on weekends and holidays
On performance days, the box office opens one hour prior to an event on weekdays and two hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Papagena Call Center
Ticket hotline +49 30 4799 7411
Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm
Sunday and public holidays 2pm to 8pm
Food & Drinks
Casalot Catering welcomes Pierre Boulez Saal visitors before and after concerts, serving a variety of dishes of Arab cuisine.
On concert nights, the bar opens one hour before the start of an event and remains open after the performance. You may also place pre-orders for intermission right at the counter.
More informantion on our catering can be found here.
Coat Check
Small bags up to a maximum size of A4 (21x30 cm) and jackets may be taken into the concert hall. Luggage, helmets, large umbrellas, and other bulky items must be stored at the coat check.
The coat check is free and located behind the staircase in the foyer, on the left-hand side.
Accessibility
To book wheelchair-accessible seating, other seats for visitors with disabilities, or companion seats, please contact us directly.
+49 30 4799 7411
tickets@boulezsaal.de
All wheelchair seats are accessible by elevator. All visitors, including patrons using a wheelchair, will enter the Pierre Boulez Saal through the main entrance. Tickets will be checked at the hall doors.
In order to make access as easy as possible, we kindly ask that you inform us of your requirements when booking your tickets.
Restrooms for visitors with disabilities are located in the basement and on the balcony level and are accessible by elevator.
Four parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are available on the street Hinter der Katholischen Kirche.
